It's here. I flew down to Reno on Alaska Airlines today and flew this thing back ... at 275 MPH.
click pic

Makes you wonder what one of them was praying for

Five Mexican children were killed when a large metal cross they were praying at was struck by lightning in central Mexico, local media reported Monday.

Five children between 9 and 16 years old died and several others suffered burns when lightning struck a white-painted metal cross set on a hill in the town of Santa Maria del Rio early on Sunday, according to two newspaper reports.

Several families had been participating in a midnight ceremony as part of a local religious festival that centers around the cross.

Octopus of the Evergreens

Most of you not from the Northwest won't know about this (and I'm guessing a lot of you locals won't either), but these things are one of our treasures. And are now endangered.

I don't get all high and mighty very often, but this really is something we need to seize...before it's too late.

Put your cynicism aside, get involved.

Thanks for the heads-up Digitalprimate.

http://zapatopi.net/treeoctopus/

Sweet is the taste of life

I have gotten email from a few people recently suggesting concerns about my health. Mental. That I seem bitter. Very. Funny, but bitter.

Saying, "I have nothing to complain about" always sounds ridiculous to me - everyone has something to complain about. And I don't think I complain as much as rant and grandstand here a bit.

Life is very sweet indeed. But writing about how happy I am about my profusion of tulips, and the thrill I feel at the arrival of warmer weather, how truly lucky I am to be able to pursue my joys of flying and travel, the pleasure and security I derive from my deep friendships... well, that's not funny. So I don't write about it.

But picking on Boeing executives for gleefully grabbing their ankles in public in front of the President of China? Funny. Soft targets. So that's what I write about.

Happy I am! Lucky I am! Watch me run! Fa la la!